The PBLCI rose 1.6% for the September quarter 2012. The main contributor to the rise was housing (+4.7%), mainly due to rises in electricity and gas and other household fuels. Food and non-alcohol beverages (+2.2%) also contributed to the rise, largely due to rises in vegetables and fruit.

Transport (-1.1%) contributed the most significant partial offset, largely due to a fall in automotive fuel.

The PBLCI recorded a larger rise than the CPI (+1.4%) in the September quarter 2012. Pensioner and beneficiary households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on both housing and food and non alcoholic beverages than the CPI population, both of which rose this quarter. Further, pensioner and beneficiary households have a relatively lower proportion of expenditure on transport than the CPI population, which recorded the largest fall this quarter.

The PBLCI rose 2.0% through the year to the September quarter 2012. The PBLCI showed the same rise as the CPI (+2.0%) through the year to the September quarter 2012.

Employee households

The living cost index for employee households rose 0.9% for the September quarter 2012. The main contributor to the rise was housing (+4.3%), mainly due to rises in electricity and gas and other household fuels. Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+1.9%) also contributed to the rise, largely due to rises in vegetables and fruit.

The most significant partially offsetting fall was recorded for insurance and financial services (-1.5%), mainly due to a fall in interest charges. Transport (-0.8%) also fell largely due to a fall in automotive fuel.

The LCI for employee households recorded a smaller rise than the CPI (+1.4%) for the September quarter 2012. Employee households have a relatively lower proportion of expenditure on housing than the CPI population, which recorded a rise this quarter. This was further offset by the fall in interest charges, which for conceptual reasons is not included in the CPI.

The LCI for employee households rose 1.0% through the year to the September quarter 2012. This is a smaller rise compared to the CPI (+2.0%) through the year to the September quarter 2012.

Age pensioner households

The living cost index for age pensioner households rose 1.9% for the September quarter 2012. The main contributor to the rise was housing (+6.2%), mainly due to rises in electricity, gas and other household fuels and property rates and charges. Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+2.3%) also contributed to the rise, largely due to rises in vegetables and fruit.

The most significant partially offsetting fall was recorded for transport (-1.1%) which was driven by a fall in automotive fuel.

The LCI for age pensioner households recorded a larger rise than the CPI (+1.4%) for the September quarter 2012. Age pensioner households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages and health than the CPI population, both of which recorded a rise this quarter. Further, the fall in transport provided a smaller offset to the rises due to age pensioner households having a relatively lower expenditure on this group.

The LCI for age pensioner households rose 2.0% through the year to the September quarter 2012. This is the same as the rise recorded for the CPI (+2.0%) through the year to the September quarter 2012.

Other government transfer recipient households

The living cost index for other government transfer recipient households rose 1.4% for the September quarter 2012. The main contributor to the rise was housing (+4.0%), mainly due to rises in electricity, gas and other household fuels and rents. Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+2.1%) also contributed to the rise, largely due to rises in vegetables and fruit.

The most significant partially offsetting fall was recorded for transport (-1.2%) which was driven by a fall in automotive fuel. Insurance and financial services (-0.9%) also fell due to a decrease in interest charges.

The LCI for other government transfer recipient households recorded the same rise as the CPI (+1.4%) for the September quarter 2012. Other government transfer recipient households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on housing and food and non-alcoholic beverages, both of which recorded a rise this quarter. Other government transfer recipient households have a relatively lower proportion of expenditure on health which reported a fall this quarter.

The LCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 2.0% through the year to the September quarter 2012. This is the same as the rise recorded for the CPI (+2.0%) through the year to the September quarter 2012.

Self-funded retiree households

The living cost index for self-funded retiree households rose 1.7% for the September quarter 2012. The main contributor to the rise was housing (+6.2%), mainly due to rises in electricity, property rates and charges and gas and other household fuels. Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+2.1%), recreation and culture (+1.3%) and health (+2.7%) also contributed to the rise largely due to rises in vegetables and fruit, international holiday travel and accommodation and hospital and medical services respectively.

The most significant partially offsetting fall was recorded for transport (-0.9%) which was driven by a fall in automotive fuel.

The LCI for self-funded retiree households recorded a larger rise than the CPI (+1.4%) for the September quarter 2012. Self-funded retiree households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on recreation and culture and health, both of which recorded rises this quarter.

The LCI for self-funded retiree households rose 1.5% through the year to the September quarter 2012. This is a smaller rise compared to the CPI (+2.0%) through the year to the September quarter 2012.

Percentage change, Commodity group - June Quarter 2012 to September Quarter 2012

Pensioner and beneficiary LCI

Employee LCI

Age pensioner LCI

Other government transfer recipient LCI

Self-funded retiree LCI

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

Weighted average of eight capital cities

%

%

%

%

%

%

Food and non-alcoholic beverages

2.2

1.9

2.3

2.1

2.1

1.9

Alcohol and tobacco

0.9

0.9

0.8

1.0

0.8

0.9

Clothing and footwear

0.4

0.1

0.3

0.5

0.2

0.2

Housing(a)

4.7

4.3

6.2

4.0

6.2

3.2

Furnishings, household equipment and services

0.9

1.0

0.9

0.9

0.8

1.0

Health

-0.2

2.2

0.4

-1.3

2.7

2.4

Transport

-1.1

-0.8

-1.1

-1.2

-0.9

-0.8

Communication

0.5

0.5

0.4

0.5

0.4

0.5

Recreation and culture

0.6

0.8

0.9

0.4

1.3

0.9

Education

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.1

0.1

Insurance and financial services(b)

-0.3

-1.5

1.2

-0.9

1.2

0.2

All groups

1.6

0.9

1.9

1.4

1.7

1.4

(a) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes.

(b) Includes interest charges and general insurance, except for the CPI. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis.